Report

Situation Analysis on the Effects of and Responses to COVID-19 on the Education Sector in South Asia

Sub-regional Report

Highlights

This sub-regional situational analysis provides a snapshot of the educational responses and effects of COVID-19 across South Asia based on a comprehensive desk-review of qualitative and quantitative evidence, complemented by key informant interviews with relevant education officials, local authorities and teachers across the eight countries in the sub-region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).

Sub-regional situation analyses are also available for Southeast Asia and East Asia and a summary of findings is available in a regional situation analysis for Asia. In addition, 14 country case studies on the impacts of COVID-19 on the education sector, including thematic deep dives, lessons learned and recommendations, have been conducted.

The situation analysis considers the direct effects of school closures and reopening and identifies their impact on learners, their families as well as on the overall education system. The objectives of the analysis are:

to assess and estimate the various impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic on the education sector and stakeholders in Asia;
to examine policy and financial implications on progress towards achieving SDG 4-Education 2030; and
to identify examples of promising responses and strategies in education and associated social sectors, which can be shared with other countries.

This situation analysis is a collaboration between UNESCO, UNICEF ROSA and UNICEF EAPRO partly funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) under the UNESCO-UNICEF-World Bank joint project on Global and Regional Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.